plate no. 2656

Portrait of Claude-Marie Dubufe against a landscape background

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfigurelandscapeskyclothingbook

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering clothing folds, as well as landscape painting techniques for creating depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's proportions and placement within the landscape.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: sky, background landscape, figure's clothing, and ground.
step 03
Refine the sky and landscape, paying attention to atmospheric perspective and subtle color variations.
step 04
Develop the figure's face, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle shading to create form.
step 05
Add details to the figure's clothing, including folds, highlights, and shadows.
step 06
Paint the hat, book, and cane, paying attention to their textures and colors.
step 07
Refine the ground and add details like grass and shadows.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the entire painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ivory black, titanium white, and raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create muted greens for the landscape. Add cadmium red light to create the hat color.

techniques